Iberdrola commissions Spain’s largest batteries, Naturgy to develop two BESS projects in the Canary Islands

Iberdrola España has commissioned Spain’s first utility-scale battery systems in Alarcón (Cuenca). The Romeral and Olmedilla batteries, located adjacent to the 50 MW Romeral and 50 MW Olmedilla photovoltaic plants, each have a power output of nearly 30 MW and storage capacity of 60 MWh.

The construction of these batteries generated over 100 jobs and involved several national suppliers, including Gipuzkoa-based Jema, which built the integrators. Each system comprises six 4.5 MW converters, one 2.25 MW converter, and 13 battery modules of 4.66 MWh each.

These batteries operate as hybrid systems, sharing the same grid connection point – the Olmedilla node – as the photovoltaic plants. By utilizing existing infrastructure such as substations, electricity evacuation lines, and access roads on land already designated for renewable generation, Iberdrola has maximized efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

The Romeral and Olmedilla batteries are part of a six-battery energy storage system (BESS) network with a combined capacity of 173 MW. Recognized by IDAE as Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) under the renewable energy, green hydrogen, and storage (ERHA) program, the total funding for the network is €37.5 million, with €8 million allocated to Romeral and €3.5 million to Olmedilla.

Iberdrola has been a pioneer in lithium-ion battery storage, installing Spain’s first photovoltaic-hybrid battery at Campo Arañuelo III (Extremadura) in 2021. The company also operates a 20 MWh battery in Puertollano, which stores solar power to produce green hydrogen – the largest industrial-scale plant of its kind in Europe – and two additional batteries in the Basque Country connected to local wind farms.

Iberdrola is rapidly expanding its BESS pipeline in Spain, with projects in development totaling around 903 MW.

Meanwhile, Naturgy is advancing its battery storage strategy, particularly in the Canary Islands, where it plans to develop two new battery energy storage projects: BESS Fuerteventura (€6.8 million) and BESS Puerto del Rosario (€3.4 million). Both projects are co-financed by ERDF 2021–2027 funds and are expected to be completed by 2028.

These projects complement two additional BESS installations already under construction in the Canary Islands – BESS El Escobar (€7.7 million) and BESS Piletas I (€7.7 million). The latter projects were awarded funding under Spain’s First Call for Innovative Energy Storage Projects and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (NextGenerationEU) in December 2023, and are expected to be commissioned this year.

Together, the four Canary Islands facilities will add a combined 22.5 MW of power and 78 MWh of storage capacity.

At the national level, Naturgy is developing 17 battery energy storage projects. By December 2025, the company had secured public funding for 16 battery projects totaling 260 MW of power and 689 MWh of storage capacity, representing an expected total investment of €140 million.